Plain Jane (Preview)

Chapter 10

Fighting through her emotions, Jane couldn't stop looking at her father's old car in front of her. A nineteen sixty-nine LeMans Blue Z28 Camaro with two black racing stripes running up and over the body of the car. It was his car, and his dad's before him. The paint was in perfect condition, and Jane never thought she'd see it again after his death. She was at a loss for words at the mere sight of the vehicle, and to hear that it was hers, she couldn't help but struggle to get back up on her feet. The entire time her jaw rested on the ground as she looked at her mother.

"I thought you got rid of it after he died?" Jane mumbled, trying to find the right words to express her gratitude.

"No, sweetheart, I just stored it. Then when I saw you were doing well in your training, I knew I couldn't hold you back anymore. I knew that wouldn't be what your father wanted. So instead, I gave the car a facelift to bring it into this new century. It has some minor upgrades, including a turbocharged interceptor engine. It has all the bells and whistles inside with the maintained old-school look on the outside." Jane's mother explained while walking over to the car and dragging a finger up the hood to check for dust. Somehow Jane knew it would turn up with nothing as she joined the walk-around inspection of the car in their old garage. "So, what are you waiting for? You need to get home somehow, right?"

Her mother's smile was warm, just like it used to be back when Jane was growing up. It was the type of smile that took every worry out of her body, which was exactly what Jane needed at that moment. Jane was utterly worry-free as she picked her jaw up off the ground and made her way closer to the car. The vehicle had many memories attached to it, but the biggest significance it held for her was that it was the car she learned to drive with. While also being the car, she helped her father fix when she was just a child.

"I don't know what to say, Mom. Thank you. I hope this isn't another twisted joke, though." Jane commented before wiping the tears from her face.

"It's not a joke; it's your car now, and we're changing your call sign to something more appropriate. However, I'll leave it to the car to tell you about that." Her mother mentioned. Jane couldn't say it was the most confusing thing she had experienced or heard all day, but it sparked her curiosity.

"What do you mean the car will tell me?" Jane asked to see if she could pry an answer from her mother, but instead, she merely walked away from her daughter.

"I don't have time to talk, hun, but I'll see you at the bunker tomorrow. We have much to discuss. I know what happened to your computer, by the way. Don't trust anyone, Jane, remember that. Not until we know who these people are." Her words made the hair on Jane's neck stand up. When she said those three words, it reminded Jane of her late father, and she could feel her heart aching.

In turn, Jane didn't know what to say to her as she thought about the phrase. Her mother gave her a quick hug, and Jane couldn't help but hug her back, and savour the moment. She was her Mom, after all, and the one thing she still had left of a family that could be trusted. When the two pulled away from one another, Jane felt like a little kid again. She continued to hold her arms out, not wanting the moment to end and wanting her Mom to come back. Unfortunately, she knew she wouldn't as she gave Jane one last look and then said the four words Jane craved to hear most of all. "I love you, Jane."

Then as if time had frozen, Jane blinked, and her mother was gone, leaving her daughter alone at the old house. She watched as her mother got in her car before revving the engine and driving out of the neighbourhood. Meanwhile, Jane turned to look at the beast waiting in its cave for her. Slowly she approached the car while rubbing a hand up the hood then giving it a little pat.

"Hello, old friend." The words faded into the wind as Jane grabbed the door handle and pulled it open.

The nostalgic smell of the interior leather filled her nose immediately. Only she didn't take a moment to savour it; instead, she took her new spot as the driver of the car. It was her father's spot, but now, as Jane sat there, she could feel his presence with her. A smile ignited on her face as she turned the key in the ignition, and the vehicle roared to life. Jane felt the car shake as she looked around at the old wood-finished interior and smiled. Savouring every moment, Jane turned to look at the steering wheel when something caught her eye. The NE symbol was inset in the centre of it. Again the car sparked her curiosity further about what it meant. With a gentle touch of her finger, Jane traced the metal letters when suddenly a robotic voice filled the car's interior.